Simon was born in Simmesport, Louisiana, United States. Similar to many other African-American artists from the era, Simon began singing in his father's Baptist church. He pursued his vocal abilities full-time once the family moved to Richmond (near Oakland, California) in the late 1950s. There Simon joined the Golden West Gospel Singers and became influenced by Sam Cooke and Arthur Prysock. With this, the group decided to turn secular and recorded "Little Island Girl" as the Golden Tones in 1959.
Hush Records label owners Gary and Carla Thompson urged Simon to record on his own, and in 1964 Simon scored considerable success on the Vee-Jay label with "My Adorable One". Simon scored again in 1965 on the Chicago based label with "Let's Do It Over", which landed a #13 spot on the US Billboard R&B chart. However, the Vee-Jay label folded soon after the latter song's release and Simon found himself traveling across the country singing.
Simon caught the eye of Nashville, Tennessee, R&B disc jockey John Richbourg during this time, and Richbourg not only became Simon's manager/record producer but also brought the singer to Monument Records' subsidiary label Sound Stage 7 in 1966. That year Simon released "Teenager's Prayer", which peaked at #11 on Billboard's R&B chart. Within the next two years, Simon released a string of hits: "(You Keep Me) Hanging On", "The Chokin' Kind" (Billboard Hot 100 #13), "Farther On Down The Road", and "Yours Love". "The Chokin' Kind" was written by Harlan Howard, spent 12 weeks in the charts, and had sold one million copies by 16 June 1969. In addition, Simon was given a Grammy Award in 1970 for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.
Under the encouragement of Richbourg, Simon moved to the Polydor distributed Spring Records label in 1970, which paired Simon with Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. The team scored a #3 R&B hit in 1971 with "Drowning In The Sea of Love" and a #1 R&B hit in the summer of 1972 with "Power Of Love". Both songs reached #11 on the Hot 100. "Drowning In The Sea of Love" sold over 1.5 million copies and the R.I.A.A. on 6 January 1972 gave a gold disc. "Power of Love", written by Gamble, Huff and Simon was Simon's third million seller, and the R.I.A.A. awarded gold disc status on 29 August 1972.
Simon continued to release R&B hits with "Pool Of Bad Luck", "Trouble In My Home", "Step By Step", "I Need You, You Need Me", "Music In My Bones", "Carry Me", and 1975's "Get Down, Get Down (Get On The Floor)", which gave Simon his third #1 R&B hit, and also a #8 Hot 100 hit. Simon's success escalated with his writing/producing the theme tune for the film, Cleopatra Jones in 1973.
In the late 1970s/early 1980s, Simon decided to remove his tenor/bass-baritone voice from the secular music world and devote it and his life to Christianity. Simon began evangelist preaching in Flossmoor, Illinois. In 1983, he produced the album Lay My Burden Down for former Davis Sisters second lead Jackie Verdell. Simon released a gospel album titled This Story Must Be Told in the late 1990s.
In 1999 Simon was inducted as a Pioneer Award honoree by the Rhythm and Blues Foundation. Joss Stone covered "The Chokin' Kind" on her 2003 album, The Soul Sessions.
Simon has had a number of his songs sampled by other artists, including OutKast, who sampled "Before the Night is Over" in their hit "So Fresh, So Clean" and Lil' Kim, who sampled Simon's "It Be's That Way Sometimes" in "Magic Stick", featuring 50 Cent. Memphis Bleek sampled Simon's "Trace Your Love" for his track "Alright" on the 2005 534 album.
Power Of Love
Joe Simon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Honey, sweet darlin', I'm yours
Oh, yes I am
Every since that day we met
My whole life been full of joy and happiness
Oh when you kiss me it burns to my soul
Seven days later, my body I can't control
You got
You got power in your twist
You got power, power, power
Oh-oh!
Oh I love ya
I tell you I just can't help myself
Oh when I hear you talk and I see you walk
That make me know I don't want nobody else
You got you call my name
All my life I wanted someone
To love an understand
Now were together, listen to me honey
My loneliness has gone away
I swear I think I'm
Think I'm able to carry on, yeah
You got honey in your kiss
And I'm glad of that
You got honey in your twist
And I'm glad about it
Sometime, baby
I wanna scream about your love
Sometimes, baby
I just a-wanna say oh, I'm glad
I'm glad, I'm glad, I'm glad
You got power in your kiss
You got power in your twist
You got power in your walk
You got power in your talk
Power with your best
You got it, you got it
You got it baby
Sometime I wanna squeeze you
In "The Power of Love," Joe Simon sings about the transformative and captivating nature of love. The lyrics describe how he has found true happiness and joy since meeting his lover. He is enamored with her and can't help but be drawn to her every move, from her walk to her talk. He feels a strong connection to her, describing how her kiss and touch make him feel alive and in control of his body. The power of her love has made him believe he can overcome anything, and he can't imagine being with anyone else. The chorus emphasizes the strength of her love, stating that she has power in her kiss, twist, walk, and talk.
The lyrics of the song demonstrate the power of love to transform individuals and make them feel whole. Joe Simon is celebrating the joy and happiness that comes from finding someone who loves and understands him. He recognizes that his lover has an undeniable power over him, but he embraces that power because it fills him with love and joy. Through his words, he conveys the extent to which love can transform a person's life, taking them from a state of loneliness to one of fulfillment.
Line by Line Meaning
Whoa-yeah, baby, sugar
I am filled with joy and admiration for you, my darling
Honey, sweet darlin', I'm yours
I am devoted and committed to you, my love
Oh, yes I am
I am sure of my feelings for you
Every since that day we met
My life has never been the same since I met you
My whole life been full of joy and happiness
You have brought so much happiness and joy into my life
Oh when you kiss me it burns to my soul
The intensity of my passion for you is overwhelming
Seven days later, my body I can't control
Your hold on me is so strong that I lose control of myself
You got
You possess
You got power in your twist
Your movements are so full of grace and beauty
You got power, power, power
You possess a great deal of strength and influence
Oh-oh!
My emotions are overflowing with admiration for you
Oh I love ya
I am deeply in love with you
I tell you I just can't help myself
No matter how hard I try, I can't resist my feelings for you
Oh when I hear you talk and I see you walk
Your voice and your movements captivate me
That make me know I don't want nobody else
You are the only one I want
You got you call my name
You have a hold on me that is so strong that you can summon me just by saying my name
All my life I wanted someone
I have been searching for someone like you my entire life
To love an understand
Someone who can love and appreciate me for who I am
Now were together, listen to me honey
Now that we are together, I want to express my feelings to you
My loneliness has gone away
You have filled the void in my life and I am no longer lonely
I swear I think I'm
I am certain that
Think I'm able to carry on, yeah
I am now able to move forward in life with confidence
You got honey in your kiss
Your kisses are sweet and full of love
And I'm glad of that
I am grateful for your sweet and loving kisses
You got honey in your twist
The way you move is graceful and graceful, like honey
And I'm glad about it
I am grateful for your graceful movements
Sometime, baby
At times, my love
I wanna scream about your love
I want to shout to the world about how much I love you
Sometimes, baby
Occasionally, my love
I just a-wanna say oh, I'm glad
I just want to express my happiness and gratitude for you
I'm glad, I'm glad, I'm glad
I am extremely happy and grateful
You got power in your walk
Your walk is full of confidence and grace
You got power in your talk
Your words are full of wisdom and conviction
Power with your best
You always give your best in everything you do
You got it, you got it
You possess a great amount of talent and skill
You got it baby
You are truly amazing, my love
Sometime I wanna squeeze you
Sometimes I just want to hold you tight and never let go
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOE SIMON (USA 1), KENNETH GAMBLE, LEON HUFF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jimmie Martin
R.I.P.To one of the greatest soul singers in the world,who made a way out of no way.And didn't let fame consume him.
Carlton Jumel Smith
Right on Jimmie!!! I'm doing a salute to him on my FB page. I'll have it up in a few.
Jimmie Martin
@Carlton Jumel Smith I'll be looking for it.Thanks so much my Brother.
T.R Ferguson
I was about 11 when this song came out, still lookin for that woman he described so amazing in this song, today's music can never never touch the music of the 50's 60's or 70's. .when this song came on my aunt and uncle would cut up all over the dance floor. You were a class act sowas your music MR. SIMON R.I.P.
Annie Coefield
Wow , one of my mothers favorite songs . She would play it over and over again . Now I'm just all wrapped up and tangled up in all those old hits .RIP Joe Simon there will never be another one like you !!!
alice jean
Brings back memories of good times with family. R.I.P. Mr. Joe Simon❤️
Martha R.
My Mother Use To Love This Kind Of Music Everytime I Hear This Kind Of Music Reminds Me Of Her R.I.H. Mom ❤
Angela Yancey
RIP Joe Simon 1943-2021😔🙏💔🌹⭐!!
Anything and Everything with Jeremy Pape
Rest in peace Joe Simon
Grace Earls
A true legend with a gifted voice from God. Mr.Joe Simon RIP.✝️🙏🎙❤